Obtaining compounds from wax saponification

Abstract

An aqueous acid solution is mixed with an organic water-immiscible solvent which contains saponified and unsaponified compounds, which are obtained by saponifying a wax with an alkali in the solvent, to obtain an acidified mixture having a pH of from 2.5 to 4. The mixture is allowed to separate into an aqueous phase and an organic phase, and then the aqueous phase is separated from the organic phase. An alkaline earth metal hydroxide is mixed with the organic phase to form salts of fatty acids, and in cases when an insoluble material is formed from the organic phase, the insoluble material is separated from the organic phase. Unsaponified compounds are obtained from the organic phase by evaporating the organic phase. Salts of fatty acids may be removed from the compounds.

I claim: 
     
       1. A process for obtaining compounds from waxes, when insoluble material is formed by the process, comprising saponifying a wax in an organic water-immiscible solvent with an alkali and thereby obtaining a mixture of saponified and unsaponified compounds in the solvent, mixing an aqueous acid solution with the solvent to obtain an acidified mixture having a pH of from 2.5 to 4, allowing the mixture to separate into an aqueous phase and an organic phase, separating the aqueous phase from the organic phase, mixing an alkaline-earth metal hydroxide with the separated organic phase to form salts of fatty acids, and whereby insoluble material is formed from the organic phase, and, separating the insoluble material from the organic phase and then evaporating the organic phase to obtain unsaponified compounds. 
     
     
       2. A process for obtaining compounds from waxes, wherein insoluble material is not formed by the process, comprising saponifying a wax in an organic water-immiscible solvent with an alkali and thereby obtaining a mixture of saponified and unsaponified compounds in the solvent, mixing an aqueous acid solution with the solvent to obtain an acidified mixture having a pH of from 2.5 to 4, allowing the mixture to separate into an aqueous phase and an organic phase, separating the aqueous phase from the organic phase, mixing an alkaline-earth metal hydroxide with the separated organic phase to form salts of fatty acids, and whereby insoluble material is not formed from the organic phase, and evaporating the organic phase to obtain unsaponified compounds. 
     
     
       3. A process according to claim 2 wherein the wax is jojoba oil. 
     
     
       4. A process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the organic water-immiscible solvent is selected from the group of solvents consisting of butanol and pentanol. 
     
     
       5. A process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the alkaline-earth metal hydroxide is selected from the group of alkaline-earth metal hydroxides consisting of calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide and barium hydroxide. 
     
     
       6. A process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the aqueous acid solution comprises sulfuric acid. 
     
     
       7. A process according to claim 6 wherein the organic water-immiscible solvent is selected from the group of solvents consisting of butanol and pentanol and wherein the alkaline-earth metal hydroxide is selected from the group of alkaline-earth metal hydroxides consisting of calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide and barium hydroxide. 
     
     
       8. A process according to claim 1 or 2 further comprising removing fatty acid salts from the unsaponified compounds obtained from the organic phase. 
     
     
       9. A process according to claim 8 wherein the salts are removed by dissolving the unsaponified compounds obtained from the organic phase in a solvent selected from the group of solvents consisting of ethanol and acetone, filtering to remove the salts from the solvent and then evaporating the solvent to obtain the unsaponified compounds. 
     
     
       10. A process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the wax is contained in a material which contains glycerides and further comprising separating the glycerides from the wax prior to saponifying the wax. 
     
     
       11. A process according to claim 1 wherein the organic water-immiscible solvent has a boiling point of above 75° C., the solvent and acid are mixed at a temperature of from 75° C. to 85° C., the alkaline-earth metal hydroxide is mixed with the organic phase at a temperature of from 70° C. to 90° C. and the insoluble material is separated from the organic phase at a temperature of from 70° C. to 90° C. 
     
     
       12. A process according to claim 2 wherein the organic water-immiscible solvent has a boiling point of above 75° C., the solvent and acid are mixed at a temperature of from 75° C. to 85° C., and the alkaline-earth metal hydroxide is mixed with the organic phase at a temperature of from 70° C. to 90° C.